The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-29
MR.. LAMAR's APPOINTMENT.


Cleveland as well, that the Senate would at
once con firm the appointment, and that the
latter would be permitted to carry out his
plans to reconstruct his Cabinet without de-
lay. The holiday season has not been one of
| unalloyed pleasure to Mr. Lamar or to Mr..
| Cleveland, because the nominations have been
chung up" and the pleasant political job
| somewhat delayed. But it would have been
| scandalous if the Senate had complacently
permitted the political decker involved in the
nomination of Mr.. Lamar to go unchallenged.
An appointment to the Supreme Bench is not
political, rather partisan appointment. II
IL the highest Office to which any man can be
| promoted. It is above the presidency in
many respects, and the duty of the Senate to
fadvise and consent" is one not to be trifed
with. 1t would have pleased the coarse poll
ticians of the Cleveland Villas Dickinson
| school to have had the nomination treated care
| lessly and confirmed as matter of course.
They unquestionably think the action of the
| Senate outrageous, a violation of 'the cour-
tesy OF the Senate and of the courtesy due
been careful in its scrutiny of Supreme Court
appointments; that is, since the Senate has
been under Republican control. 1t will be
recalled that two appointments, at least, and
we think three made by General Grant did
not pass the scrutiny of the SEN
ate. Attorney general Williams was ap-
pointed to succeed Chief justice Chase, but
the appointment was so distasteful that it was
wi thdrawn without action. Mr. Williams
had been member of the Senate, but the
famous Courtesy" not sufficient to
save him. Then Caleb Cushing ap
pointed, and for day or two It seemed that
that appointment would be satisfactory. His
ability, and learning, and experience were
undo ubted; but it became known that his
sentiments as to the war Of the rebellion were
not sound. The Indianapolis Journal I'M
earthed letter he had written at the out
break of the rebellion that settled his case,
and his withdrawn from the
Senate. This was followed by the appoint
m ent of the present chiefjustice whose
fitness at once recognized, and he was
Unanimously cOnurIneQ al auOluor Ilm0
E. Rockwell Hoar nominated for
associate iusticeship. He had been attorney
genenal; he was lawyer of undoubted
ability and experience, and he had brother
in the Senate But all these things were
not powerful enough, and his name with
drawn because it not believed that he
had the temper and mind for such a place.
The treatment of Mr.. Lamar is not exceptional.
The exceptional features in his case are that
the appointment is of VIGOROUSLY
unified for the Office; man without legal
learning judicial experience; man with
no reputation whatever as a lawyer or
jurist. His nomination is part of personal
and political scheme Of the President, who
is shaping things for reelection. In addi-
ton to his natural and professional disqualif-
cations; Mr.. Lamar is politically disqualified
in the opinion of the party which is nomi-
nally suppo sed to control the Senate, and in
the opinion of tn overwhelming majority Of
those who are supposed to be represented in
that senatorial control, and who represent a
principle that foug ht through a war to estab-
Iish certain const ruction of the Constitu-
ton against which Mr.. Lamar battled with
voice and sword, and against which his latest
recorded expression of opinion is as strong
as ever it was before or during
opposing the appointment, and yet the Senate
is assailed with all manner of opprobrium
because it is opposing the plans of the
ecutive," and those who are dissatisfied with
the appointment denounced enemies of
the Union as bad as those who fired upon
Fort Sumter. The last expression is used by
the New York Herald in speaking of those
who are opposed to the confirmation of Mr..
Lamar. There must be some very strong
reason for such Incorporate advocacy. A
loyal people. who believe in preserving the
Supreme Bench from the influence of Cal
hounism in constitutional construction. may
we'll pause and inquire what it is that neces-
states such bitter and untruthf ul advocacy as
that resorted to to force the confirmation of |
Mr.. Lamar. We do not think it IS hard to
find. We do not have to go far to seek the |
real reason. Mr. Lamar's appointment was |
made without reference to his fitness, and |
solely for the partisan reasons involved. 1t |
was to carry out a personal and partisan
scheme of the confederate Cleveland Democ-
racy. Mr.. Lamar is conspicuous exponent
of the confederate Democracy in the South,
which insists on recognition and restoration,
and his confirmation IS urged with the old |
brutalism and insolence that characterized
that element when it was lin the saddle" in !
other days. The Northern Democracy repre-
scented by Cleveland, is as subservient now as
then to the real brains and leadership of the
party; it is as ready to be the newer of wood
and drawer of water in 1887 as in 1857, and